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9 Comedy Writing Styles You Need To Know

HUMOUR

When writing fiction, I like
considering what makes my characters laugh. I feel sense of humour is lacking
from many characters. Despite our lives not being comedies, people still crack
jokes, and can see the funny side of life in very dark places.

Originally, I designed a list to
give budding comics joke topic ideas. I realised it could double its value,
giving characters unique senses of humour.

Be wary writing jokes about
stereotypes. Be intelligent in your subject matter. Tread the line between
right and wrong, but never ever cross it. It will end you.

A - Basic

1. Standard

A standard joke format is reversing.
A comic says a phrase then twists the original meaning with a punchline. This is
the most basic form of comedy.

2. Language

Language jokes focus heavily on wit and
wordplay. They make use out of the nonsense derived from linguistic blind spots
in English, or other languages. They include puns, tmesis, portmanteaus, garden
path sentences.

Another type of rhetoric used in comedy
is hyperbole. It includes forms of exaggeration, boasting and arrogance to create
a certain comedic stage persona.

Self-involved humour involves narratives
or funny stories. It is mostly self-depreciative. The spotlight is on the comedian
being the butt of jokes, rather than laughing at others misfortune.

2. Cultural

Making fun of stereotypes is never acceptable.
People don’t choose sexuality, gender, race, nationality, disease or looks.Nobody likes sexist, racist, xenophobic
homophobes.You can play on these misconceptions.It’s good pushing boundaries,
challenging the status quo, but don’t offend.

There is more leeway into mocking religions
and political stances, rather than sexuality or race. This is because politics and
religion are choices. Islam and Scientology seem to be above this rule, as
people fear retribution.

I am agnostic, but I would never
mock someone’s religion. Some comedians do, and to great effect. Many people enjoy
this comedic style, but I find it too preachy for my palette.

3. Satire

Satire will involve lampooning, and includes
parodies and spoofs. Be careful with this humour style. There is a thin line between
satire and slander.

Extreme humour should make listeners
feel uncomfortable. Horror and comedy are very much connected. It includes many
subgenres including horror, sick, toilet, blue, black, dark, gross, cringe, insults
and taboos.

3. Variety

Variety comedy normally involves the
comedian playing characters. I use it as a catchall term to include using of props,
music, sketches, slideshows, slapstick and poetry.